Wire stretcher



J. H. BEST. WIRE ST R ETCHER'.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-1.1910.

1,428,414. f P tented.se p.5, 1922.

J. H. BEST.

WIRE STRETCHER.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV.-l, 1920.

1 ,428,4: 1 4. V Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Sept. 5, 1922.,

dTATiZS attain earner torsiona Joni: H. BEST, on EDMGND, KANSAS,

WIRE STRETCHER.

Application filed November 1, 1920. Serial No. 421,100. I

device of this character so constructed as to be fulcrumed upon a post and carrying wire engaging grips which are successively engageable behind successive barbs whereby to exert a step by step pulling action for placing the wire under tension.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to use, highly efiicient, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illus trated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in use engaged upon a fence post,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, b Figure 3 is a plan view showing the device arranged for splicing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation thereof, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the wire grips. v

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a bar which has one end straight and serving as a handle and which has its other end curved, as shown at 11, for fulcruming engagement upon a fence post A. The letter B designates wires to be stretched. The extremity of the curved portion 14 of the bar is provided with a hole 12 and formed at the juncture of the straight portion with the curved portion of the'bar is an car 13 provided with a hole 14. The center of the curved portion is provided with a hole 15. 7

Associated with the bar 10 are rods 16 and 17, the former of which is provided at "3 end with an eye 18 pivotally engaged within the hole 12 and the latter of which is formed with an eye 19 pivotally engaged withinthe hole 14. The other of these rods are formed with eyes 20 and 21, re spectively, with which are pivotally con nected gripping hooks 22 and 23, respectively, which areidentical in-construction.

Each of these gripping hooks comprises a body 2 1 apertured at one end for engagement of the pivoting eye therein and having the other end formed with a bill 25. The bill is so arranged with respect to the body as to provide a long narrow space therebetween and this space decreases in size toward the bight of the hook. v

Engaged within the hole 15 is a link 26 which carriesa gripping hook 27 identically the same as the hooks 22 and 23. Connected with the link 26 is one end of a chain 28 which carries at its other end an ordinary hook 29.

In the use of the device the curved portion 11 of the bar is engaged upon the post A and one of the hooks 22 or 23 is engaged upon the wire to be pulled behind one of the barbs thereon, the particular formation of the gripping member insuring proper holding action upon the wire. The operator then grasps the handle portion of the bar and swings it upon the post so as to" pull upon the hook which is engaged upon the wire which will result in a longitudinal pull upon the wire. The other hook 22 or 23 is then engaged with the wire-behind a succeeding bar whereupon the bar is swung in the other direction to exert an additional pull, further binding the wire. This operation is continued, alternating the engagement of the grips or hooks 22 and 23 with the wire until the proper tension thereon is obtained, after which it is of course apparent that the wire is nailed onto the post.

If desired, instead of engaging the bar upon the post, the hook 27 may be engaged behind a barb on wire already stretched at the other side of the post and the operation carried on in other respects as before.

When it is desired to make a splice use may be made either of the hook 29 engaged behind a barb or the chain 28 may beengaged about a post with the hook 29 thereon engaged within the link 26 whereupon the device is operated in the same manner as before described to tension. i

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent,

place the wire under structed and consequently inexpensive device which is easily operated to tighten Pence Wires or to hold them under tension while a splice is being made.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the [spirit of the invention or the scope of the subj'oined claim.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: h p

In a wire stretcher a hook comprising a Jonnn. BEST. 

